Ever wondered why Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked us to recite Surah Al-Kahf every Friday?
This surah has four stories in it, let’s explore what lessons can be learned from them:
1. The people of the cave
It’s the story of young men who lived in a disbelieving town, so they decided to migrate for the sake of Allah and run away. Allah rewards them with mercy in the cave and protection from the sun – they woke up and found the entire village believers.
These young men were driven out of their homes because they believed in Allah. They ended up in a cave where Allah made them sleep for many years (309 lunar years which is 300 solar years).
When they woke up they felt they had slept for a day or half a day. One of them went to the town to get some food disguising himself thinking that the people would recognise and harm him. Only to find himself amongst a different people. The people of the town were amazed at his appearance of this man and the old coins he was using.
The story shows us how Allah protects the righteous who believe in Him no matter how hard their situation is.
The Biblical version of the story is called ‘The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus”, however, the Qur’an doesn’t mention the number of those who were in the cave.
(Some) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth,- doubtfully guessing at the unknown; (yet others) say they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say thou: “My Lord knoweth best their number; It is but few that know their (real case).” Enter not, therefore, into controversies concerning them, except on a matter that is clear, nor consult any of them about (the affair of) the Sleepers. (Quran, 18:22)
Lesson: Trial of faith
2. The owner of two gardens
This is a story about a man who owned two beautiful gardens, but he became arrogant and told his friend “I am greater than you in wealth and have more servants and attendants and children!!” (Quran 18:34)
A story of a man whom Allah blessed with two beautiful gardens, but the man forgot to thank the one who blessed him with everything and he even dared to doubt Allah regarding the afterlife. So his garden was destroyed – he regretted, but was too late and his regret did not benefit him.
Lesson: Trial of wealth
3. Musa (‘alayhissalam) and Khidr (‘alayhissalam)
Musa goes on a journey with Al-Khidr where he learns that Allah bestows his knowledge on whoever he wishes. Nobody should ever feel he/she is the most knowledgeable, as all knowledge belongs to Allah. Hence, Al-Khidr says, “…And I did it not of my own accord…” (Quran 18:82)
When Musa (‘alayhissalam) was asked “who’s the most knowledgeable of the people of Earth?” Musa (‘alayhissalam)) said that it was him as he assumed he was the only prophet on Earth at the time. But Allah revealed to him that there’s someone who knows more than him about certain things. Musa (‘alayhissalam) traveled looking for him learned how divine wisdom can sometimes be hidden in matters which we perceive as bad.
Lesson: Trial of knowledge
4. Dhul-Qarnayn
Allah mentions the story of a great king who was given knowledge and power travelling the world helping people and spreading all that’s good. He was able to overcome the problem of Yajooj-Majooj by building a massive dam with the help of people whom he could not even understand.
“He said: ‘This is mercy from my Lord. But when the promise of my Lord comes to pass, He will make it level (with the ground), and the promise of my Lord is ever true’.” (Quran 18: 98)
Lesson: Trial of power
In the middle of the surah, Allah mentions Iblees as the one who stirs these trials:
And [mention] when We said to the angels, “Prostrate to Adam,” and they prostrated, except for Iblees. He was of the jinn and departed from the command of his Lord. Then will you take him and his descendants as allies other than Me while they are enemies to you? Wretched it is for the wrongdoers as an exchange. 18:150
In many hadith, the messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) mentions that the one who reads and memorises verses of Surah Al Kahf will be protected from the trials of the Dajjal.
Abu Darda’ (radi Allahu ‘anhu) narrates that the prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: He who memorizes the first ten verses of Surah Al Kahf will be protected from the trial of the Dajjal. In another narration, it is the last ten verses of Surah Al-Kahf. (Muslim)
Now let us see what the relationship is between Surat al-Kahf and the Dajjal:
Dajjal will appear before the day of judgement with 4 trials:
A) He will ask people to worship him and not Allah: Trial of faith.
B) He will be given powers to start/stop rain and tempt people with his wealth: Trial of with his wealth.
C) He will trial people with the “knowledge” and news he gives them: Trial of knowledge.
D) He will control huge parts of the Earth: Trial of power.
How to Survive these Trials
Allah mentions in the surah how we can survive these trials:
1. Good companionship
And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever [in] neglect. 18:28
2. Knowing the truth of this world
And present to them the example of the life of this world, [its being] like rain which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it and [then] it becomes dry remnants, scattered by the winds. And Allah is ever, over all things, Perfect in Ability. 18:45
3. Humility
[Moses] said, “You will find me, if Allah wills, patient, and I will not disobey you in [any] order.”18:69
4. Sincerity
Say, “I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord – let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone.” 18:110
5. Calling to Allah
And recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book of your Lord. There is no changer of His words, and never will you find in other than Him a refuge. 18:27
6. Remembering the Hereafter
And [warn of] the Day when We will remove the mountains and you will see the earth prominent, and We will gather them and not leave behind from them anyone. And they will be presented before your Lord in rows, [and He will say], “You have certainly come to Us just as We created you the first time. But you claimed that We would never make for you an appointment.”And the record [of deeds] will be placed [open], and you will see the criminals fearful of that within it, and they will say, “Oh, woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?” And they will find what they did present [before them]. And your Lord does injustice to no one. 18:47-49
The Prophet taught us that
“Whoever reads Surat al-Kahf on Friday, Allah will bestow upon him light between those two Fridays.”
(Narrated by al-Bayhaqi; classed as Saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami‘. )
May Allah help us make Al-Kahf a regular part of our Friday routine
Reference ilmfeed.com and onepathnetwork.com